this is bbc news. our top stories: the catalan government insists sunday's vote on independence will go ahead. supporters of the vote hold events at polling stations in a bid to make sure they remain open. it will be a great loss for spain and for the people of spain, for democracy and for freedom of speech if we do not vote tomorrow. not only for catalonia but for the whole country. the situation in puerto rico following two devastating hurricanes remains dire, amid a deepening political row over the us relief efforts. the united nations warns of an increase in sexual violence against rohingya refugees fleeing the military crackdown in myanmar. a british traitor, but a hero in russia. moscow celebrates the life of kim philby — the soviet spy from the 60s. hello and welcome

to bbc world news. a controversial vote on catalonia's independence is just hours away. and the central government in spain have been stepping up efforts to stop the vote, claiming that most voting stations have been closed. it follows a raid at the catalan government's it centre to disrupt electronic voting. the vote is considered illegal by the government in spain. the national police have sealed off over a thousand schools, which are intended to be polling stations. it's prompted the president of the catalan national assembly to make this plea. translation: want to make a direct

appeal to the people, the man and women, appealed to their conscience and their sense of responsibility, to their sense of community. in madrid earlier, a large protest took place,